Touch, therapeutic

Complementary and alternative medicines A group of practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, including alternative medical systems (e.g., homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine), mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation and mental healing), biologically-based therapies (e.g., dietary supplements, vitamins, herbs, and other natural products), manipulative body-based methods (e.g., acupuncture and massage), and energy therapies (e.g., therapeutic touch and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies). 

Wager, S., A Doctor s Guide to Therapeutic Touch, Berkley Publishing Group, New York, 1996. 

Herbal products are considered a type of alternative medicine (e.g., herbal medicines, Chinese herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, biofeedback, color therapy, music therapy, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy. Ayurvedic medicine, massage, therapeutic touch, Bach flower remedies, chiropractic, reflexology, naturopathy, and more). According to the Office of Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), characteristics of alternatives medicine include treatments that lack sufficient documentation in the United States for safety and effectiveness against specific disease and... 

The term therapeutic touch is used to mean a particular hands-on therapy, as well as the entire realm of hands-on techniques, such as Reiki, Touch for Health, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and some forms of Reconnective Healing. In addition to reducing stress and anxiety, therapeutic touch has been shown to have positive effects on many conditions linked to acidity in the body, including osteoarthritis, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and Alzheimer s-type dementia.10 It can provide an increased sense of comfort and well-being, reduce pain, and in some cases improve symptoms and the condition itself. More study is required to validate the power of therapeutic touch as a treatment, either stand-alone or in combination with other healing therapies and medical treatments. But because therapeutic touch has no side effects and can help reduce stress, it is a welcome addition to the Kick Acid program, should you choose to incorporate it. 

Alternative metlicine mind and body therapeutic touch (e.g., acupressure), chiropractic approaches, and herbal and natural remedies... 

Nonpharmacological pain treatment includes massage, imagery, music, distraction, humor, acupuncture, chiropractic interventions, hypnosis, herbal therapies, therapeutic touch, and transcutaneous electronerve stimulation. Surgical interventions are also sometimes performed to relieve pain. 

Complementary medicine refers to not scientifically proven therapies that are given in addition to conventional therapy (e.g. herb tea with antibiotics for pneumonia, and therapeutic touch), whilst alternative medicine often consists of therapies or remedies that are used alone in place of conventional therapy, e.g. zone therapy, healing, and homeopathy (Cassileth, 1999). 

Using Therapeutic Touch is an important treatment of migraine. 

British scientists have reported that people suffering from migraine receiving the Therapeutic Touch treatment experienced a noticeable pain relief. Intensive and durational headaches are problematic for fliese people. The Migraine Association has hailed this important research finding. 

Perhaps you have experienced the sense of well-being that a good therapeutic relationship engenders. I know that I have. I had a doctor in New Jersey who had the most wonderful bedside manner. Dr Doubek - I called her Mamie - looked me in the eye when I spoke. She listened, she nodded, she showed concern. She did not seem the least bit hurried or rushed. And I do not know if she is aware of this, but at least once during each visit she touched me briefly on the arm while talking to me. I felt cared for, understood. 

LSD has no officially recognized therapeutic value. However, its use as a therapeutic drug has a rich history. Early research with LSD suggested that it produces states similar to those experienced by people experiencing a type of severe psychiatric disturbance called psychosis, in which patients often hear voices that aren t there, lose touch with reality, have disordered thinking, and experience paranoid thoughts. Mental health experts therefore tried taking LSD to see if it could help them understand their patients problems. 

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